John Lewis in Aberdeen

[MrsAmaretto]

I’m genuinely surprised to hear that John Lewis in Aberdeen is closing, by best wishes go to anyone affected by this announcement.

I’ve always found the staff really helpful and knowledgeable whether in store or on the phone looking for items that are out of stock online.

Really hoping other stores stay open in Aberdeen!

A real shame, I honestly thought they’d stay open. Looks like it’ll be a trip to Glasgow for my make up as hate online shopping! There will be nothing left as non accord was almost empty too!

God there's going to be nothing left north of Glasgow/Edinburgh at this rate.
Makes me sad as I like nothing more than a day out shopping and have a wee mosey about in the shops

Anyone old enough to remember E & M? Esslemont & Mackintosh.

We were neighbours to the Esslemonts (i think it was) back in the 1980's.

A total shame.

Aberdeen felt like it was dying shopping wise even before the lockdowns.

I was sad when Esslemont and Mackintosh closed but I didn’t think I’d see it happen to John Lewis.

Sadder for those affected though.

Xpost Lizzie.

E&M was the place to buy uniform if you were a secondary state schoolgirl like me.

It's all going online though isn't it? Even without covid things were heading that way.

There's not much decent shops left! They're putting a pound shop into the trinity centre where Waterstones was. There's quite a few on union street so I don't know why we're needing another one.

Anyone old enough to remember E & M? Esslemont & Mackintosh.

Yeah, I got a rather fetching bright red corduroy jacket there in the 80s I loved. Think they had a branch in Perth as well. Can't believe John Lewis is shutting though, would have thought my Mum kept it open all by herself.

Really sad, I've a friend that has worked there for a long time, she suspected it might be coming but doesn't make it any easier.

The demise of the city centre in Aberdeen is horrendous. Not a single department store left.

Yes I remember E&M, I really enjoy a good department store! It does feel like there’s going to be no chain store shops left outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow. What can they do with all the space in shopping centres?

I've just signed a petition on change.org . I don't think I'm allowed to link it here.

I see your E&Ms and raise you Isaac Benzies.

Really sad about John Lewis, the staff in there are always so lovely. Remember E and M and House of Fraser too. Oooh, and Nova up top. My fave spot for birthday cards and nonsense and then maybe lunch in Food Story. Sighs for non pandemic life

Was that known as Arnotts as well morki?

It was indeed Sheldon.

They should have the ground floor a Waitrose food hall when they refitted it a while back. Like the old Nordic House food hall. Would have kept a lot of foot traffic going that was, especially with Markies at St Nicolas.

I long for a Waitrose in the toon. That would have been a great idea.

I think that is the least they can do for robbing our last department store.

I’m damned sure I can’t get clothes to fit me in poundies - even at Halloween.

You’ll remember JL as Norco too I’m guessing.

I’ve an urge to channel my inner Elaine Paige and wail ‘Memories’

Aye.

Union Street in Aberdeen is becoming quite scary, due to the number of boarded up commercial premises. Its so sad to see so many empty premises that used to house businesses employing people.

But the whole of Aberdeen city centre is a bit weird. So many people are moving out of town to one of the hordes of new builds, and you can buy one bedroom city centre flats for 50k.

I live out in the country so a wee trip into Aberdeen was a bit of a treat - a canter round the shops and out for lunch. That all seems a distant memory now.

I remember as a student thinking I was so grand shopping at Nova. Anybody remember Maroc on Rosemount Viaduct? where I bought a genuine jumper made in the Andes with alpacas on it which had bits of wood in it

I remember both with fondness - currently looking at my lampshade which is clinging on to life and still beautiful.

I also had a scarf from Maroc which smelled of something dubious (doobieus?). But that went away with a couple of swims in Radion... (another blast from the past!)

Aberdeen used to be such a treat for shopping. All budgets catered for and most tastes.

C&A, etam, FHW, Trueform, Dolcis, Burtons, woollies. Union Street was usually heaving on a Saturday.

God only knows how it will end up.

I remember Marco too. I had a little coin purse from there in embossed and coloured Morrocan leather when I was a kid.

You used to be able to get to the bottom floor of Boots via the steps down to the Green.

There also used to lots of little interesting shops dotted about the place.

Terracotta on Willowbank Road. The Orange Grove in Rosemount.

There was a place that sold French clothes on Holborn Street, can’t remember the name and there was a crystal shop at the end of John Street.

The Farmhouse Bakery on Rosemount Place had strawberry tarts with black currant jam underneath that my dad loved (he didn’t like the jelly on most of them) and an antiquarian bookshop just across the road from it.

There was a fancy toy shop on South Mount Street sold Caran D’Ache watercolour pencils and also Taylor’s Arts opposite the Art Gallery.

Also there was a wee shopping centre called the Village I think at the end of John Street for a while. Little shops not much bigger than market stalls. Got turned into a pool hall IIRC.

*Maroc not Marco

It’s very sad that it’s closing but I’m not sure what the point in the petition that seems to be doing the rounds
I used to really like Pentangle on Union Street. Also there was little shop on back wynd which sold incense, crystals etc and did piercings - can anyone remember what it was called? I used to adore that place as a teenager!

This thread has been a blast from the past for me - I lived in Aberdeen from 2004-9 & spent virtually all my salary in John Lewis. I bought the most incredible knee high Italian leather boots there, John Lewis' own brand, they nearly bankrupted me as a junior university lecturer back in the day but I wore them to death & beyond. My heart sank when I heard the news of the closure today.

I haven't been back for 12 years & I'm sad to hear of the apparent decline in the city centre. I still have the long leather gloves I bought in Esslemont & Mackintosh. James Dun's House introduced me to Aveda too. I loved The Granite City.